Chapter 157 Nalan Shuo

The Murong Family had initially thought this was a win-win situation, but they never expected Murong Jie to return battered and bruised.

After hearing the whole story, everyone in the Murong Family was furious. They couldn't believe the Joyous Union Sect dared to detain their people, and they were even more shocked that Murong Wan dared to defy the Family's decision.

In the past, Murong Wan was just an illegitimate daughter in the Family, and no one took her seriously. Even when she ran away from home, nobody cared.

In the eyes of the Murong Family, she and her mother were merely part of the Family's resources, whose life and death should be controlled by the Murong Family.

But Murong Wan actually dared to sever ties with the Family over her mother's death. This was outright treason and, according to the rules, should be dealt with by Family law.

When it came to the Family's interests, the Murong Family would not back down.

They were inclined to go and demand her return immediately, but after the initial excitement, they quickly calmed down.

Ye Fan was just a Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator, so the Murong Family naturally didn't take him seriously. However, the Joyous Union Sect's attitude was worth considering.

As the saying goes, a powerful dragon cannot suppress a local snake. If the Joyous Union Sect insisted on protecting her, it wouldn't be easy for them to forcibly take Murong Wan away.

For this reason, the Murong Family went all out. They waited for their Old Ancestor to emerge from seclusion, reported everything to him, and prepared to have this Golden Core Realm Great Cultivator intervene. They didn't believe the Joyous Union Sect would completely fall out with the Murong Family over a single Disciple.

The Murong Family had originally intended to keep this matter from Nalan Shuo, but through a series of coincidences, he found out anyway, which was why he came with the Murong Family to demand her return.

Qing Mingzi hadn't expected the Murong Family to be so ruthless, even going so far as to bring out a Golden Core Ancestor. This was clearly an attempt to use their power to bully others.

If this had happened before, they might have truly handed over Murong Wan to settle the matter peacefully. But now, this was no longer something Qing Mingzi could decide alone.

The current Ye Fan was not just some personal Disciple of Profound Spirit Peak. He was the Daozi of the Joyful Union Sect, the future Sect Head successor, the one who slew a Core Formation Realm Cultivator while being in a lower realm, the number one Prodigy of the Southwest, the one who crushed the top of the hidden dragon ranking, and so on.

This string of titles would take half a minute just to type out. Qing Mingzi felt his mouth go dry just saying them. Trying to touch Ye Fan's Dao Companion was not something to be taken lightly.

"Nalan Shuo, how many times do I have to tell you? I have never liked you, and I already have a Dao Companion," Murong Wan said with a frown.

"Wan'er, don't worry. I don't mind. As long as you dissolve your union, it's fine. Don't worry, I won't look down on you," Nalan Shuo said with a serious expression.

Murong Wan considered herself to have a decent temper, but today she couldn't help feeling the urge to curse.

"Nalan Shuo, is there something wrong with your head? I've only met you a few times. What madness has possessed you to insist on marrying me?!" Murong Wan finally snapped.

"Wan'er, do you believe in love at first sight? I do."

"Don't worry. After you enter my household, we can slowly cultivate our feelings. I promise I'll make you fall in love with me."

"..."

Looking at Nalan Shuo's earnest expression, Murong Wan was truly speechless.

She secretly thought that if she had known things would come to this, she should have just killed him with a sword when they were children.

"Wan'er, stop this nonsense! Matters of marriage are decided by parents' orders and matchmakers' words. How can you keep refusing? Do you even see me as your father?!"

The middle-aged man leading the Murong Family suddenly spoke. He appeared to be around forty-five years old, with a cultivation level roughly at the sixth or seventh layer of the Core Formation Realm. In the Southwest, he would definitely be considered a top expert.

Murong Chuan intended to assert his paternal authority, but all he got in return was Murong Wan's cold sneer.

"Father? Sorry, but the night my mother died, my father died along with her," Murong Wan said bluntly.

"What did you say!!"

Being publicly rebuked, Murong Chuan flew into a rage out of humiliation. He swung his arm, intending to slap Murong Wan, but at the critical moment, Su Ningxue stopped him.

"Sect Head Murong, you certainly have quite the air of authority. But you must remember, this is not the Murong Family; this is the Joyous Union Sect," Su Ningxue said coldly.

Murong Chuan was momentarily taken aback, then snorted, "Do I need to consider the occasion when disciplining my own daughter?!"

"Hah, you know perfectly well why Wan'er doesn't acknowledge you as her father."

"The Murong Family's dirty laundry isn't fit for public display."

Su Ningxue didn't spare Murong Chuan any face, retorting until his face flushed red like liver, yet he could do nothing about it.

"Fine, fine, fine! I see the Joyous Union Sect is determined not to hand her over. Old Ancestor, what do you think we should do?"

With no other choice, Murong Chuan could only bring out his Family's Old Ancestor. As soon as he spoke, the atmosphere in the hall instantly grew tense.

This was a Golden Core Realm Great Cultivator. In the Southwest, he could walk sideways without fear, standing on equal footing with the Old Ancestors of the Nine Great Sects. Even the various Sect Heads would respectfully address him as Senior.

However, Murong Longcheng still maintained some of the dignity befitting a Golden Core Realm Great Cultivator. He hadn't spoken from the beginning, observing everything as a bystander. It was only when Murong Chuan spoke that he slowly lifted his eyelids.

But just as he was about to say something, Nalan Shuo suddenly spoke up.

"Old Ancestor, please wait. I can resolve this matter."

"Hmm?"

Although Murong Longcheng was somewhat displeased at being interrupted, given Nalan Shuo's powerful backing, he could only pretend it was fine, nodded, and closed his eyes again to rest.

"Wan'er, I won't make things difficult for you. I heard your Dao Companion... named Ye Fan, right?... once defeated your elder brother, Murong Jie."

"Have him come out, and we'll have a match. If he defeats me, I promise this matter ends here. I will never bother you again in the future."

As soon as Nalan Shuo finished speaking, everyone in the Joyous Union Sect was stunned. No one had expected him to say this.

Murong Jie was a genuine Core Formation Realm Cultivator. Knowing that Ye Fan had defeated him while only at the Foundation Establishment Realm, Nalan Shuo still dared to propose such a wager. It seemed he was extremely confident.

Just as Murong Wan was about to say something, Ye Fan's voice came from outside the door.

"Murong Jie said the same thing last time. But looking at it now, the Murong Family's words are no different from farts. So why should I believe you?"

As soon as Ye Fan spoke, the faces of the many Cultivators from the Murong Family turned ashen. Their gazes toward him were murderous.

Even Murong Longcheng slightly opened his eyes, unable to resist giving him a once-over.

But then he revealed a disdainful expression, closed his eyes again to rest, clearly not taking Ye Fan seriously.

Murong Chuan was momentarily stunned, then immediately understood that Ye Fan was the 'culprit' behind everything.

"So it's you, brat! You're the one who injured Jie'er?!"

"So what if I am?"

Ye Fan wore an expression of utter indifference as he walked straight to Murong Wan's side.

With Ye Fan beside her, Murong Wan felt incredibly secure. All the gloominess vanished in that moment.

"By rights, I should call you father-in-law. Unfortunately, Wan'er doesn't acknowledge you as her father, so you'd better stop pretending to be an elder here."

Ye Fan was utterly disgusted by the Murong Family's actions and didn't spare Murong Chuan any face at all. His retort turned Murong Chuan's aged face green, almost causing him to lose control on the spot.

"Uncle Murong, please leave this matter for your nephew to handle."

Seeing that Murong Chuan was about to take action, Nalan Shuo quickly spoke up to stop him.